Modi flays opponents of Hindutva, calls for open debate

PTIJan 12, 2003, 01.44pm IST

NEW DELHI: Asserting Hindutva is not an obstacle to progress, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi challenged its critics to have an open debate on the issue.

"Those who say Hindutva is an obstacle to progress, I challenge them to an open debate," Modi told a function on Saturday evening organised by NRIs to felicitate him on his becoming the chief minister.

"For over 10,000 years, our ancestors who believed in Hindutva have progressed. Since 1947 when the country got independence, it has progressed considerably."

It was ironical that people continue to feel that defeat of the BJP is defeat of Hindutva, Modi told the function.

It was Hindutva which first defined globalisation when it said "Vasudeva Kutumbav (the entire world is my house)", he said.

Modi said in the 1857 War of Independence, Hindus and Muslims together fought the British rule and there was no concept of secularism at that time.

It was Britishers who created division between the two communities and introduced the concept of secularism, he said.

The chief minister said it was only Hindutva which advocates women power, putting them on high pedestal.